[caveatesq1]

Okay, I am showing my age and lack of tech savy here. I got an allocation and have set my build without the eSIM option. Can anyone explain to me what this is and whether it is worth adding? Does it just work off of my existing cell plan or do I need to then add the car as a separate device on my plan with an addition monthly fee? The BMW website description is pretty vague. Thanks

[jimbethesda]

Originally Posted by caveatesq1

Okay, I am showing my age and lack of tech savy here. I got an allocation and have set my build without the eSIM option. Can anyone explain to me what this is and whether it is worth adding? Does it just work off of my existing cell plan or do I need to then add the car as a separate device on my plan with an addition monthly fee? The BMW website description is pretty vague. Thanks

Total waste. This feature enables WiFi in your car. You'd need a separate plan or add your car as another device on your current plan.

If you want WiFi in your car for non-cellular devices (iPad as an example), simply use your phone as the hotspot. No need for a separate plan.

[Alachua]

I got it because it's a cheap addition, and who knows what the future will hold for deals/packages, etc, regarding in-car wifi by cell providers.

[apexes]

I added because of the following...

"Even if customers choose not to add their vehicle to their mobile phone plan, vehicles equipped with Personal eSIM functionality still benefit from the low latency and high bandwidth of a 5G connection when data is exchanged between the BMW Cloud and the vehicle. For example, Remote Software Upgrades can be downloaded to the car in a fraction of the normal time required. "

For $300 (0.3% of the price of my build) I felt it would be silly not to add. I have ZERO intention of signing up for a mobile plan, especially if only offered through T-mobile, but can always appreciate faster remote software updates.

[MassComp]

Originally Posted by jimbethesda

Total waste. This feature enables WiFi in your car. You'd need a separate plan or add your car as another device on your current plan.

Not a total waste....

If you want 5G activated in your car (even without signing up for a plan), you need Personal eSIM 5G.

"Even if users do not sign up for the mobile phone plan, the vehicles will still use 5G to download remote software upgrades to the car in a fraction of the time it takes for earlier cars."

https://www.pymnts.com/connectedecon...wifi-hotspots/


THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PERSONAL eSIM AT A GLANCE

Premium high-speed Internet via the external aerial of your BMW

Connectivity that follows you from vehicle to vehicle thanks to your BMW ID

Activation of 5G in your BMW

Most stable telephone connection possible in your vehicle

WiFi hotspot for you and your fellow passengers


And at only $300, it's a no-brainer.

[caveatesq1]

Thanks - I have just about every option on my build other than this and carbon ceramic brakes. For $300 I may just add it before my order locks.

[jimbethesda]

Originally Posted by MassComp

Not a total waste....

If you want 5G activated in your car (even without signing up for a plan), you need Personal eSIM 5G.

"Even if users do not sign up for the mobile phone plan, the vehicles will still use 5G to download remote software upgrades to the car in a fraction of the time it takes for earlier cars."

https://www.pymnts.com/connectedecon...wifi-hotspots/


THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PERSONAL eSIM AT A GLANCE

Premium high-speed Internet via the external aerial of your BMW

Connectivity that follows you from vehicle to vehicle thanks to your BMW ID

Activation of 5G in your BMW

Most stable telephone connection possible in your vehicle

WiFi hotspot for you and your fellow passengers


And at only $300, it's a no-brainer.

To each their own. OTA updates are available maybe twice a year. I'll download it to my phone first.

As far as the other features, that requires a separate data plan (after free trial ends).

Not getting it is a no-brainer (to me at least). That's why it's an option, let everyone decide for themselves.

[jimbethesda]

Originally Posted by apexes

I added because of the following...

"Even if customers choose not to add their vehicle to their mobile phone plan, vehicles equipped with Personal eSIM functionality still benefit from the low latency and high bandwidth of a 5G connection when data is exchanged between the BMW Cloud and the vehicle. For example, Remote Software Upgrades can be downloaded to the car in a fraction of the normal time required. "

For $300 (0.3% of the price of my build) I felt it would be silly not to add. I have ZERO intention of signing up for a mobile plan, especially if only offered through T-mobile, but can always appreciate faster remote software updates.

Faster software updates are good. BMW doesn't update it very often (twice a year?). You can download in the background. It's not like a 4k movie you want to watch now. Plus, you can download it to your phone first, then update your car.

Yeah, $300 on a 100k car is nothing. Still seems like a waste to me.

[e46grk]

I ended up selecting everything except carbon seats (wife's comfort is top priority haha), carbon ceramics and this one. All options are nice to have, but some are nicer than others. Not this one though.

[1BAD4DR]

The esim only works for T-Mobile glad I didn’t get it

[caveatesq1]

Originally Posted by 1BAD4DR

The esim only works for T-Mobile glad I didn’t get it

Where are you getting that from? I have not seen that in any BMW materials.

[MassComp]

Originally Posted by 1BAD4DR

The esim only works for T-Mobile glad I didn’t get it

For now, but I bet that will change in the future....

"T-Mobile competitors AT&T and Verizon have each announced 5G connected car deals with major automakers. AT&T signed a 5G auto deal with GM in August 2021 while Verizon’s inked a 5G win with Audi this past February. Both were firsts for each of the carriers and start with select year 2024 models."

https://www.fiercewireless.com/5g/t-...ected-car-plan

[dross21]

This seems like a feature that may become available as part of a software upgrade in the future.

[MassComp]

Just got done talking with a T-Mobile rep. For people like me who's not currently a T-Mobile subscriber, cost is $30 w/taxes per month for the new line & 10GB of data per month (no carryover of unused data)....

"Sales taxes and regulatory fees included in monthly service price. Up to 10GB of monthly in-car high-speed mobile internet data while in the U.S. on our network. Max 2G speeds after data allotment. No data overages. Plus up to 5GB of your high-speed data in Canada and Mexico at no extra charge. No annual service contract. Coverage not available in some areas. Video typically streams on smartphone/tablet at DVD quality (480p)."

https://www.t-mobile.com/offers/bmw-car-wifi-plan

[RationalHuman]

Originally Posted by MassComp

Just got done talking with a T-Mobile rep. For people like me who's not currently a T-Mobile subscriber, cost is $30 w/taxes per month for the new line & 10GB of data per month (no carryover of unused data)....

"Sales taxes and regulatory fees included in monthly service price. Up to 10GB of monthly in-car high-speed mobile internet data while in the U.S. on our network. Max 2G speeds after data allotment. No data overages. Plus up to 5GB of your high-speed data in Canada and Mexico at no extra charge. No annual service contract. Coverage not available in some areas. Video typically streams on smartphone/tablet at DVD quality (480p)."

https://www.t-mobile.com/offers/bmw-car-wifi-plan

So I just installed the eSIM feature on my '23 M3. They now support both AT&T and T-Mobile, BUT not AT&T corporate packages. Or not all - it wouldn't work with 'my' cell # (bought through my company), but it does with my Wife's (on the plan of a former client of hers). It cost $20/month to enable, and in theory this means the car, like any other eSIM device (like my Apple Watch Ultra) can make calls WITHOUT a phone being present. I haven't tested that in the car yet, but it does work on my watch. BMW claims that w/ eSIM enabled your phone will now use the external antenna and improve reception, but my one drive with eSIM on so far gave mixed results - got dropped once in 350 mile drive, so hard to say if any better. This post is mostly to let people know about the corporate package limitation to save you all the 90M talking to various reps at both BMW and AT&T about why the install isn't working. Basically if you can't install eSIM from the app, and you have a corporate plan on your phone, you're hosed. When I tried with my wife's phone it installed right away.

I plan to try it for a while and if it doesn't seem to add any value I can always de-install it

[antzcrashing]

Originally Posted by apexes

I added because of the following...

"Even if customers choose not to add their vehicle to their mobile phone plan, vehicles equipped with Personal eSIM functionality still benefit from the low latency and high bandwidth of a 5G connection when data is exchanged between the BMW Cloud and the vehicle. For example, Remote Software Upgrades can be downloaded to the car in a fraction of the normal time required. "

For $300 (0.3% of the price of my build) I felt it would be silly not to add. I have ZERO intention of signing up for a mobile plan, especially if only offered through T-mobile, but can always appreciate faster remote software updates.

Thanks for your reply. Am I understanding this correctly, if you get the option (now standard on 2024 M4 models), you will get the OTA updates via 5G, however you need a 5G plan with a carrier for Wi-Fi to beam in your car all the time? Thanks

[jimbethesda]

Originally Posted by antzcrashing

Thanks for your reply. Am I understanding this correctly, if you get the option (now standard on 2024 M4 models), you will get the OTA updates via 5G, however you need a 5G plan with a carrier for Wi-Fi to beam in your car all the time? Thanks

Yes

[skyline408]

Have it on my x5m, not on my m3. It's a waste and after the hotspot trial was over, I had no desire to pay another monthly fee for something like this. If I need a hotspot for the kids ipad, I just use my phone.

[antzcrashing]

Originally Posted by skyline408

Have it on my x5m, not on my m3. It's a waste and after the hotspot trial was over, I had no desire to pay another monthly fee for something like this. If I need a hotspot for the kids ipad, I just use my phone.

I very much could take this as truth, but also believe there is more to this feature than just a kids iPad. Someone mentioned leaving your phone home and you can still operate the car as if you have full signal, is that one use? Are there others? Thanks

[rowdydaoudy]

Even though it was .3% of my purchase price, I didn’t want it added. My dealer added it to my build and didn’t remove it when I asked. It will be a $300 waste to me, imo.

[antzcrashing]

Originally Posted by rowdydaoudy

Even though it was .3% of my purchase price, I didn’t want it added. My dealer added it to my build and didn’t remove it when I asked. It will be a $300 waste to me, imo.

2024 builds of M4 have this standard, so my questions are mostly about its utility once it is included. But I do appreciate the perspective though

[skyline408]

Originally Posted by antzcrashing

I very much could take this as truth, but also believe there is more to this feature than just a kids iPad. Someone mentioned leaving your phone home and you can still operate the car as if you have full signal, is that one use? Are there others? Thanks

Personally, I activated the esim and 5G hotspot (which uses TMO btw) and other than the hotspot, I saw no other 'features'. There may be, it just wasn't apparent to me. Once my trail was over, and they wanted something like $20/30 a month to continue, I just cancelled it.